Banner mounting construction



April 21, 1959 E. FREY 7 2,882,630

BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 INVENTOR.

- Edward Frey ATTORAEYS Unimd States Patent BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Edward Frey, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Massi llon- Cleveland-Akron Sign Company, Massillon, Ohio, in corporation of Ohio Application February 15, 1957, Serial No. 640,499

6 Claims. (Cl. 40-425) This invention relates to a mounting construction for banners and signs, and more particularly it pertains to tensioned supports for flexible banners or signs.

Flexible banners or signs composed of cloth or other :sheetlike material may be adapted for use as outdoor advertising medium under certain conditions. Such signs .are displayed to best advantage in pairs on opposite sldes :of a pole or standard in parallel planes forming a boxlike structure. By mounting the banners in pairs on opposite sides of a pole they may be mounted so as to be .mutually dependent upon each other to sustain their intended spacing and position on the pole.

One difiiculty with existing mounting means for banners and signs of flexible sheetlike material is the provision of suitable support and tension elements at opposite ends of the banner. Most existing mounting means do not sustain and maintain the sheetlike material or cloth forming the banners in taut planes.

weather conditions causes the banner to lose its tightly ,drawn or taut status, forming folds, flutes, 'puckers or the like, thereby rendering the advertising copy on the banner unintelligible.

Inasmuch as the flexible banner or sign is an expedient means of advertising, it has been found particularly useful in certain types of advertising medium. For ex- ,ample, gasoline filling stations are currently using flexible banners or signs extensively on poles or standards at convenient locations on the filling station lots. The flexible banners are usually mounted on opposite sides of the pole for visibility in opposite directions.

The banner mounting means herein proposed is particularly ideal for holding a pair of banners in tightly drawn positions devoid of folds, flutes, puckers and the like. The banner mounting means includes upper and lower pairs of tension or spacer members extending between the spaced banners and disposed at equal distance from the pole or standard on which the signs are mounted.

The upper and lower spacer or tension members are necessarily in vertical alignment with each other in order to maintain the banners on thepole in flat, unfluted, sheetlike surfaces whereby advertising copy thereon is readily visible and undistorted. It has been found that the proposed mounting means maintains a pair of banners in a flat taut status notwithstanding the wind or other changing weather conditions.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a banner mounting construction for maintaining a flex ible banner or sign in tension and for holding the banners in a flat sheetlike surface at all times.

Another object of this invention is to provide flexible banners or signs with aligned suspension and tension members.

It ,is another object of this invention to provide banner mounting construction having aligned tension means at opposite ends of the banner that prevent puckering of the banner surfaces due to warp of the cloth under varying weather conditions.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a sign mounting construction having the foregoing features that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved and the described difficulties overcome by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combinations, subcombina- 'tions and elements which comprise the present invention,

the vnature of which is set forth in the following statement, a preferred embodiment of whichillustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a standard, two banner components, suspension and tension means mounting the banner components on opposite sides of the standard, said means including a pair of upper spacer members located on and spaced from opposite sides of the standard, another pair of lower spacer members located on and spaced from opposite sides of the standard, both pairs of spacer members extending between the ends of the banners, the upper and the lower spacer members on the same side of the standard being in vertical alignment with each other, link means between the standard and the upper spacer members and including hanger members extending from opposite sides of the upright member to the spacer members, the hanger members being separately secured to the spacer members at points midway be tween the banners, and a spring extending between and attached to each lower spacer member and the standard.

By way of example, the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, perspective view of the banner mounting construction of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of tfhe upper end of the banner mounting means shown in Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view showing the lower end ofthe banner mounting means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical side view of the lower end of the mounting means; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

In Fig. l, a pair of flexible banners or signs land 2 are mounted on opposite sides of an upright support member, or pole or standard 3. The banners or signs 1 and 2 are preferably elongated, rectangular, flexible members having a longitudinal axis which is substantially vertical. Other shapes of banners may be used and suspended in a similar manner. Whatever shape is used, the opposite ends of the banners are provided with hemlike borders or sleeves such as the upper and lower sleeves 4 and 5 on the banner 1 and the upper and lower sleeves 6 and 7 on the banner 2. The sleeves 4-7 are more clearly shown in Figs. 2-4 and a stiffener member or pull bar 8, 9, l0 and 11 is inserted in each sleve 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively.

The pull bars may be composed of wood, metal, or other suitable rigid material. The banners 1 and 2, being composed of a flexible material, such as cloth, are sustained in flat, taut, vertical planes as shown in Fig. 1, by upper and lower banner mounting means generally indicated at 12 and 13 respectively.

The upper mounting means 12 includes a pole band clamp 14, a pair of tension members or hanger hooks 15 and 16, and a pair of tension spacer members or tie studs 17 and 18. The lower banner mounting means 13 (Fig. 3) includes a pole band clamp 19, a pair of tension members or springs 20 and 21, and a pair of tension means or spacer tie studs'22 and 23. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper pole band clamp 14 which is securely mounted on the pole 3 in a usual manner is provided with a pair of brackets 24 and 25 on opposite sides of the pole. Each bracket 24 and 25 is apertured at 26 to receive the band clamp 14. The brackets 24 and 25 are preferably channel members and provided with a hook 27 and 28 adapted to receive the upper looped ends of the hanger hooks 15 and 16 respectively. The lower ends of the hanger hooks 15 and 16 are secured to the spacer tie studs 17 and 18 respectively by U-shaped clips 29 and 30 respectively, preferably composed of sheet metal members and apertured to receive the lower hooked end of the members 15 and 16, thereby providing a flexible or pivotal connection.

The tie studs 17 and 18 extend through the clips 29 and 30 respectively and the clips are preferably pinched together on the studs to prevent relative sliding. For example, the clip 29, disposed centrally of the tie stud 17, is secured in place at 31 on the stud 17 by pinching the assembled members 17 and 29 together after assembly to prevent the clip 29 from sliding longitudinally of the tie stud 17. The tie stud 18 is similarly attached to the clip 30.

The opposite end portions 32 of the tie studs 17 and 18 are threaded and extend through aligned apertures in each banner 1 and 2 and corresponding pull bars 8 and 10.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lower pole band clamp 19 includes a pair of brackets 33 and 34 similar to the brackets 24 and 25. The brackets 33 and 34 include hooks 35 and 36 respectively, to which lower ends of the springs 20 and 21 are attached. The upper ends of the springs are attached to the spacer tie studs 22 and 23 by clips 37 and 38 respectively, which clips are identical to the clips 29 and 30 and secured centrally to the corresponding spacer studs to prevent longitu dinal movement therealong.

The tie studs are attached to the banners 1 and 2 a shown in detail in Fig. 4 with respect to the tie stud 23. Opposite end portions 39 and 40 are threaded and extend through aligned apertures in the banner 1 and bar 9 on one side and the banner 2 and bar 11 on the other side. The threaded end portion 39 is provided with an inner nut 41 on the side of the banner 1 adjacent the standard 3, a back-up washer 42 between the nut 41 and the banner, a nut 43 and a backup washer 42a on the other side of the banner.

Similarly, the threaded end portion 40 is provided with an inner nut 44, a back-up washer 45, an outer nut 46 and washer a. The threaded end portions of all of the tie studs 17, 18, 22 and 23 are provided with nuts and washers for attachment to the banners 1 and 2 in a manner similar to the tie stud 23. Accordingly, the spacing between the banners 1 and 2 may be adjusted in a rigid and permanent manner. The nuts and washers provide a means of clamping the banners 1 and 2 together and to the standard 3 more rigidly, thereby improving the appearance of the display.

The upper and lower tie studs 17 and 22 on one side of the pole are vertically aligned with respect to each other. Likewise. the tie studs 18 and 23 on the other side are vertically aligned with respect to each other. Moreover, the studs are preferably equally spaced between the ends of the bars 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the standard 3. Thus the tension points at the upper end of the banners 1 and 2 and the lower end are aligned vertically and thereby distribute the load more evenly on the bars 8, 9, 10 and 11.

By providing the tie studs in vertical alignment, the upper and lower ends of the banners 1 and 2 are subjected to aligned forces. The upper end hanger members 15 and 16 hold the banners in suspension and the springs 20 and 21 at the lower end hold the banners tautly between their corresponding pull bars in flat planes between support lines that eliminate puckering due to warp of the cloth.

Moreover, the banner mounting means of the present invention permits the cloth to yield and stretch with the weather conditions without subsequently losing its flat, even appearance. The alignment and spacing of the tie studs 17, 18, 22 and 23 contribute to the maintenance of the banners 1 and 2 by retaining the banner surfaces flat and taut. Inasmuch as the tie studs are equally spaced between the pole 3 and the opposite ends of the pull bars, the forces applied to the banners are substantially equally distributed throughout the lengths of the pull bars. Similarly, by aligning the tie studs vertically, the tension forces are transmitted between the upper and lower pull bars in vertical lines which would not be the case if the tie studs were not vertically aligned.

The boxlike structure of the two spaced banners 1 and 2 is maintained by attaching the hanger members 15 and 16 to the corresponding tie studs 17 and 18 at points midway between the banners. The half-portions of the clips 29 and 30 at the upper end and the clips 37 and 38 at the lower end are crimp pinched or otherwise secured to their corresponding tie studs to prevent relative longitudinal movement thereof, whereby the hangers 15 and 16 retain equal spacing from the banners.

Similarly, the springs 20 and 21 at the lower end are mounted in tension between their brackets 33' and 34 and corresponding tie studs 22 and 23 so that the springs hold the banners 1 and 2 tautly below the hanger members 15 and 16.

This construction is further reinforced by the spacing maintained between the tie studs 17, 18, 22 and 23 and their respective nuts and back-up washers. The spacing is preferably slightly greater than the outside diameter of the pole 3 so that the inner sides of the banners 1 and 2 are spaced at 9a and 11a (Fig. 5) from the pole 3 to permit movement and prevent binding between the pole and pull bars. The inner sides of the banners 1 and 2 are just free enough to move on the surface of the pole 3 without binding. Accordingly, the banner mounting construction holds the banners 1 and 2 in flat, taut, parallel planes in a boxlike manner on opposite sides of the pole 3. At the same time the banner mounting means retains the assembled structure in place on the pole without being subjected to permanent twisting and subsequent uneven banner surfaces due to wind and other weather conditions.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions and principles of the invention, the characteristics of the new banner mounting construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries,

principles, parts, elements, combinations, subcombinations, structures and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Banner mounting construction including a standard, two banner components composed of flexible sheetlike material, suspension means mounting the upper end of the banner components on the standard, tension means mounting the lower end of the banner components on the standard, the suspension means including a pair of upper spacer members located between the banner components and spaced from opposite sides of the standard, the tension means including a pair of lower spacer members located between the banner components and spaced from opposite sides of the standard, the upper and lower spacer members on the same side of the standard being vertically aligned with respect to each other, the spacer members being separately secured to the suspension and tension means midway between the banner components, and the banner components being attached to the standard only by the suspension and tension means.

2. Banner mounting construction including an upright support member, two banner components, upper and lower means for mounting the banner components on the upright supporting member, one banner component being located on the upright support member opposite the other banner component, the upper mounting means including a pair of upper spacer members located between and connected to the banner components, and a pair of tension members having upper ends separately attached to opposite sides of the upright support member and having lower ends separately attached to corresponding spacer members midway between the banners.

3. Banner mounting construction including an upright support member, two banner components composed of flexible sheetlike material, upper and lower means for mounting the banner components on the upright supporting member, one banner component being located on the upright support member opposite the other banner component, a pair of upper spacer members located between and connected to the banner components, the upper mounting means including a pair 'of tension members having upper ends separately attached to opposite sides of the upright support member and having lower ends separately attached to corresponding spacer members midway between the banners, a pair of lower spacer members located between and connected to the banner components, the lower mounting means including a pair of tension members having lower ends separately secured to opposite sides of the support member and having upper ends separately attached to the spacer members midway between the banner components, and the banner components being attached to the upright supporting member only by the suspension and tension members.

4. Banner mounting construction including an upright supporting member, two banner components composed of flexible sheetlike material, upper means for suspending the banner components on the upright supporting member, lower tension means for holding the banner components in tension, the upper suspending means including a pair of spacer members between and connected to the banner components on opposite sides of the supporting member, the upper suspending means also including a pair of hanger members separately mounted between the pair of spacer members and the upright support member, the lower tension means including a pair of spacer members between and connected to the banner components on opposite sides of the upright supporting member, the lower tension means including a pair of springs mounted in tension separately between the upright supporting member and the spacer members on opposite sides thereof, the upper and lower spacer members on the same side of the upright supporting member being in vertical alignment with respect to each other and equally spaced from the upright supporting member as the other spacer members on the other side of the upright supporting member, the hanger members being attached to the corresponding spacer members midway between the banner components, and the banner components being attached to the upright supporting member only by the suspension and tension means, the springs being attached to the corresponding spacer members midway between the banner components. 5. Banner mounting construction including a standard, a banner component on each of two opposite sides of the standard, each component being composed of flexible material, an upper pair of spacer members connected to and extending between the upper ends of the banners, a lower pair of spacer members connected to and extending between the lower ends of the banner, suspension means connected between one pair of spacer members and the standard, tension means connected between the other pair of spacer members and the standard, the connections of the suspension and tension means with the spacer memers being midway of the spacer members and the components being attached to the standard only by the expansion and tension means.

6. Banner mounting construction including a standard, a banner component on each of two opposite sides of the standard, each component being composed of flexible sheetlike material, an upper pair of spacer members connected to and extending between the upper ends of the banners, the upper ends of the banners being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the width of the standard, a lower pair of spacer members connected to and extending between the lower ends of the banner, the lower ends of the banners being spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the width of the standard, suspension means connected between one pair of spacer members and the standard, tension means connected between the other pair of spacer members and the standard, the connections of the suspension and tension means with the spacer members being midway of the spacer members, and the banner components being attached to the standard only by the suspension and tension means, whereby a rigid boxlike relationship is maintained between the two banner components without binding on the standard therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,324 Clay Nov. 15, 1892 1,890,483 Wood et a1 Dec. 13, 1932 2,064,240 Austin Dec. 15, 1936 2,114,943 Taylor Apr. 19, 1938 2,764,830 Frey Oct. 2, 1956 2,772,494 Bishop Dec. 4, 1956 

